nineteen [written/voice/action]

[imatreenow]

[Mithos had come to in the forest, and the first thing he knew was that he was alone. The second thing he knew was that the mana here was so thin he couldn't sense it at all. A ripple of alarm spread through him, reaching wider with each second, but he forced himself to remain calm. He called out the names of his companions, but he didn't expect to hear any response cutting through the silence of the trees. His immediate concern is warmth. Through the trees, their limbs black and bare, he can make out the shapes of houses in the near distance - a village. He knows he can't risk venturing inside, especially if he doesn't even know where he is. The clothes he had woken up in are loose on his frame and they provide some protection against the cold, but they can't compare to a warm cloak. The upside of being a mage, however, is that you can build a fire in no time.

Once the flames are crackling, he can turn his attention to his next concern: the small book he had found in the snow, with his name embossed on the cover. He leafs through it, curious. And piece by piece, he figures out how to use it.]

[WRITTEN - mediocrely filtered to Kratos and Yuan]

Kratos and Yuan,

I found your names in this journal device. I hope this message finds its way to you. Where are you, and is Martel with you? I'm somewhere in the woods, but I don't know how I got here. I can see a village nearby, but I haven't approached and I don't know what village it is.

Please reply quickly.

Mithos

[Later, once the situation has been sorted out and he's settled in at House 8 with his two best bros in the whole wide world, he opens his journal again, this time to address a larger audience. He's had a lot to think about, a lot to digest. And perhaps his next move is foolish, but he feels that it's something he must do.]

[VOICE]

Good afternoon. Thank you for taking the time to listen... This message may not seem important, and maybe it will mean nothing to you...but it means something to me. My name is Mithos Yggdrasill. I arrived here earlier today, and the situation has been explained to me clearly enough. I'm not here to ask about that. [A small pause in which he can practically hear Yuan rolling his eyes from somewhere in the house, and his lips twtch in quiet amusement for a second before he calmly continues.]

I come from a world in conflict. Until recently, two powerful countries were at war - for nearly a thousand years, they fought each other for land and resources and power. That war has ended, but there is another, perhaps even more deeply-rooted war that still rages. People hold a lot of prejudices against each other. Elves look down on humans, and they look down on half-elves for having human blood inside them. Humans fear and despise half-elves for posessing magic that they lack. Everyone looks for someone else to blame. They look for someone they can put down to make themselves feel superior.

I don't know what your home worlds are like. Maybe they're similar to the world I know, or maybe everyone has learned to live together peacefully. I just want to be clear... I don't want to deceive anybody.

I happen to be a half-elf. I'm staying in the village right now, but if that makes you uncomfortable, I... Well, no, I won't understand. Whatever my blood may be, I'm no different from any of you. But I'll respect your wishes. I don't mean to cause trouble while I'm here.

That's all I wanted to say.

[ACTION]

[In the afternoon, delighted to learn that literally nobody cares that he's a half-elf, Mithos wanders out to explore the village more fully. First stop: clothes that fit better, because the set he woke up in were clearly meant for someone taller. He'll linger around the plaza, checking out each shop and stopping by the smithy to procure a sword. He doesn't expect to find the Eternal Sword here, but he feels a little naked without any blade at all at his side. He can be found anywhere in the village, a thoughtful look on his face as he learns the streets.]

[OOC NOTE: For those unfamiliar with Tales of Symphonia, or those who need a refresher, Mithos has returned from a mallynap thrown 4000 years into the past, to a time when he was this totally cool hero who stopped a war, stopped the world from dying, worked to end discrimination, and things like that. It's also worth noting that, to anyone who knows him, it will be apparent that he is younger - shorter, rounder face, higher voice. Basically how he was a year ago so his icons are actually accurate again. But he's still recognizable as himself.

Also, I'm staying with a friend tonight and then tomorrow we drive back to campus, so I'll be tagging as much as I can today but after that I won't be around again until late Wednesday night at the earliest. Just a heads up!]

Comments

[written]

[shiningbinds]

[...this isn't the sort of thing Kratos has to piece together. He realizes, almost immediately, what must have happened. His stomach twists, heart sinking.

His student... the way he used to be. The hero who eventually fell, who Kratos himself failed. There's a moment of hesitation, but he responds.]

Mithos,

Yes, this is Kratos. Unfortunately, Martel is not here at the moment. [A pause.] The village close to you is not any village we went through during our travels. Are you able to give your exact location in the woods? What is nearby?

Kratos

[After he sends the message, he stares at the ceiling for a moment. Is this... really happening?]

[written]

[imatreenow]

[A warm feeling of relief floods him when he sees that Kratos has replied, but it quickly recedes as he reads that first bit.]

Kratos,

What do you mean Martel isn't there? [You can't just say something like that without explaining. But maybe...] Is she with Yuan then?

I can hear a river nearby. There isn't too much else. I can see some buildings, but they're too far away to tell more about them.

Mithos

[action]

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb's making a run to the bakery. Or at least, that's what he planned to do at first. He becomes a little distracted when he notices a familiar blond wandering the plaza. He realizes he's staring after a few moments, but he can't help it.

...b-but Mithos had grown so tall! And he seems happier...

Clearly, someone hasn't checked his journal yet.]

[action]

[imatreenow]

[He had just come out of the bakery, with some treats to bring home to Kratos and Yuan, because why not? Everything is free! But already a little hungry himself, he's stopped to sit on the edge of the fountain and have a little snack himself. He hasn't noticed the other boy, but Jeb might also notice that the wings sprouting from Mithos's back are now white instead of their usual grey hue.]

voice

[theboywiththebook]

[While Henry doesn't recognize the voice at all, hearing the story...it's kind of sad to hear. Two kingdoms were fighting and hurting there world, but not only that, they were discriminating against another race for just being in the inbetween? That definitely did not fall under Henry's good category. Good people didn't hate others for simply being born a certain way.

When he hears Mithos say that he might not be wanted in the village Henry reacts instantly.]

No one's like that here. At least, I don't think so. It doesn't matter if your a half elf or a human or whatever. We're all here together.

voice

[imatreenow]

[He takes a moment to quietly absorb all that.] I'm happy to hear that. It's a little hard to believe, after everything I've seen in my world.

[voice]

[disastergirl]

If you're worried about causing trouble then why mention it at all? Maybe no one would have noticed if you didn't say anything.

[If his story bothered her then she sure wasn't letting on.]

[voice]

[imatreenow]

I've spent a lot of my life ashamed of what I am, even though it's something I have no control over. I don't want to have to hide what I am as a requirement for a peaceful life. I want to be able to be proud of what I am. [He's still not there, not entirely - he had been nervous as he recorded his message. But that's why it had been so important to him.]

If someone doesn't want me here, then I'll leave, and conflict will be avoided. Isn't that better than worrying about what will happen if someone discovers me?

voice.

[halflived]

I think the fact that you're even willing to speak up about it says enough already. I don't know about half-elves, but I know of several worlds that have a similar situation to the one you described. Half-elves just aren't the center of it as far as I know.

[Though he takes a brief moment to pause, still uncertain about the peace of this place. It was more difficult to adjust to not having to be afraid than he thought it would be, even if he hasn't admitted to it out loud yet.] I think about the only difference between us is that I'm brunette and you're blonde, as far as I can tell. That'd be a pretty stupid reason to want you out of here.

voice.

[imatreenow]

When you say it like that, it does seem silly. But there are people whose eyes narrow in on those differences, and they find any reason they can to explain why one is better than the other. [And it sounds like there are other worlds that have the same problem... It's disheartening to hear, but...]

And there are also people who can look past those differences and realize that there is more to a person than whatever their blood may be. I think everybody is capable of getting there.

[Voice]

[fallenambitions]

[Alexei absently hears the message and didn't think much of it at first until Mithos when into the discrimination he experienced back home.

...It's disappointing to hear that such prejudice even exists in other worlds.]

I doubt anyone would judge you because of what you are in a place like this. We've always had a number of interesting residents come through here all the time. It's what you decide to do and the actions you take here that people will make their own conclusion about you.

[Voice]

[imatreenow]

I guess that in a world made up of people from all different worlds, everyone is different from each other. It would be a waste of time and energy to get worked up about every little difference... So I'm glad people can focus on what matters instead.

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang spends some time staring at the journal, trying to make sense of it.

Mithos. The same name, except... he looks and sounds younger. And happy. Could this be a trick? Or... is this how Mithos used to be?

He remembers the time they befriended each other without memories. With that in mind, it wasn't hard to imagine that he wasn't always so bad. Maybe he was getting a fresh start. The Malnosso did something good for once.]

H-hello, Mithos. My name's Aang. It's good to meet you.

I'm glad that the war in your world ended, but I'm sad that people still aren't getting along perfectly. I know I don't have problems with people who are any kind of elf... or with anyone, really! But in my world there aren't elves. Just people. We're only divided by the elements that we can bend, and there's one nation for each element, but there's also people who can't bend at all. The nations are supposed to live at balance with each other with the help of the Avatar, but there's still war. In my world... a war ended a year ago, and we just stopped another war from starting. We're still working at making sure things can be at peace.

[Voice]

[imatreenow]

[He can't help but smile as he listens. He doesn't know what he expected from his announcement - he had been two parts nervous, one part determined, and one part apprehensive - but these responses are easing his worries.]

It's nice to meet you too, Aang.

I would be lying if I said that I don't get frustrated by the discrimination I still see, even though the world is finally at peace. [...Well, the worlds now.] But...I've also seen some people try to change their beliefs. With enough time, I think everyone will learn to accept others, regardless of whether they're elves, humans, or in between. That's why I can't stop trying.

[voice]

[rashness]

[You know, this really, really reminds him of the admission he made a while back. So while he's originally just confused, because isn't this that guy he had to punch a while ago? Rin just stares a moment as he tries to... process... all of that]

A thousand years?

[voice]

[imatreenow]

[...That's what this guy is pulling out of all that? Well...he supposes it might sound incredible to someone from a different world.]

For most of that time it was limited to scattered but ongoing skirmishes and conflicts...it didn't grow into a full-blown war until my lifetime.

[Voice]

[eagerstudent]

You had a war going on in your world, too? I'm glad it ended...the war in my world's still going on.

[Voice]

[imatreenow]

I'm sorry to hear that. War is...unfortunately universal, it seems. But I hope that the war in your world can come to an end too someday, and everyone can live in peace.

[eventual action]

[wise_maiden]

[...

Well. That wasn't something one heard every day.

In fact, this just might lead to trouble later. Perhaps it's best she keep an eye on the entry for now just to see who she'd have to look out for later. Unless Mithos actually learned something from this shift, which was... doubtful at best, any small hopes aside.

So she doesn't look for him, doesn't reply to him - but their paths might cross when she's out and about, taking care of errands after school. If his friends indicated the guide to him, then she might even seem familiar.]

[immediate action]

[imatreenow]

[Mithos has just stepped out of the flower shop - he felt closer to his sister, taking in the familiar earthy scent and letting it tug him back to both memories that have been shelved in his mind for years and ones that are more recent additions. It was nice to see all of that green hidden from the dead outside world. He isn't used to seeing so much snow, having experienced only a few dustings until he traveled the world.

He pauses on his way to his next stop - the library - when he suddenly feels a presence that is unfamiliar yet very familiar at the same time. His eyes finally fall on the figure at its epicenter - a woman walking about the plaza. An instinctual burst of curiosity hits first, and he wants to walk up to her and ask so many questions, but...

He hesitates. Would she be excited to meet another half-elf? Or would she rather hide what she is? Finally, he settles on approaching with a more reserved demeanor.]

Do you need help with anything? [She looks like she's out running errands, after all.]

voice;

[breezing]

Anyone's allowed in the village, don't be silly!

voice;

[imatreenow]

[...This might actually be his favorite response so far.] It isn't so silly to worry about in my world. I guess I'm just used to thinking that way, even if there's no need for it here, from what I hear.

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

My brothers are all outcasts of society in my world. Okama, fishmen, devil fruit users, "monsters," things like that.

It's now how you were born or whose lineage you carry, it's who you choose to make your family.

[Voice]

[imatreenow]

My companions and I were a lot like that too. We still are. People have started accepting us more as they recognize our part in stopping the war... [which is the whole thing, pretty much, but he's too shy to brag about his accomplishments to a stranger] ...but prejudices don't die that quickly.

I do think of them as my family, just like your brothers are your family even if you're not all related by blood. Those bonds say a lot more about you than your race or anything like that, right?

[action]

[seleniahymn]

[Tear was on her way out of House 1 to head toward the cherry blossom tree, where she intended to continue her daily meditation and bonding with Nala when she first catches sight of Mithos. While she barely came into contact with her neighbours, she knew she had never seen him living nearby, but at the same time he bore great resemblance to someone else she had seen in the village every so often.

Of course she knew she could be mistaken as she briefly pauses in her steps to look at him more closely, but nevertheless she offers him a small smile, wondering if he was perhaps a New Feather who was still getting used to the enclosure.]

[action]

[imatreenow]

[Mithos is on his way back to House 8 after an afternoon of exploring the village and meeting others, and he's looking forward to time for rest and reflection. He sees Tear from out of the corner of his eye and turns in time to see her smile at him. Not sure what else to do, he'll...smile back. He pauses to address her.]

Do you live nearby?

[Action]

[tsuntrader]

[Silver's fantastic at noticing the journals, as usual. Really. He noticed he forgot it at home again! That counts, right?

Regardless, it's only later that he runs into...

...Into...]

...Did you shrink?

[Action]

[imatreenow]

[He stops in surprise.] Are...you talking to me?

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

... That must have taken a lot for you to come out and say.

[Listening to this story, about the sort of world this person came from... the whole thing in itself was saddening. But something about the very last part strikes a sharp, tugging pang in himself. Rudy doesn't know this person, but to just come out and admit that out in the open, without knowing how everyone will react--that couldn't have been easy. It had to have been scary.

Was he really okay with just admitting that to everyone?]

I can't say it's the same for everyone here, but I know I don't have any problems with who you are. And the people I've met so far in this village... well, I doubt they're type to raise a fuss over that. [There's a brief, thoughtful pause.] ... They're all right. I'm sure it'll be okay.

[voice]

[imatreenow]

I was nervous...and afraid, because I didn't know what would happen. But I knew that this world is not the same one I left, so I thought that maybe there was a chance things could be different here.

It looks like I made the right choice, doesn't it? A lot of people have been telling me that it doesn't matter what I am, and that they don't think it will matter to anyone else either. If I hadn't brought this up now, I would have spent the rest of my time here worrying about what would happen if somebody discovered what I am. Now...I don't think I have to worry about it.